Grasp the Shield Firmly the Journey is Hard: A History of Luo and Bantu migrations to North Mara, (Tanzania) 1850-1950

13. Kowak

13 KOWAK Mot (Kamot) ndiye aliyetangulia kabla ya Kowak kuja Tanganyika. Hii ni kwa sababu ya Singruok (Usia), uliyoachwa kutoka kwa baba yao. Wakati akiwapa usia, Mzee Owak Ramogi alimuambia kijana wake Kibira, kwamba, “Jitahidi musaidiane na ndugu zako hawa na mukae kwa amani, maana wewe mwenyewe ndiye kijana mkubwa hapa kwangu, na wewe sasa ndiye mshauri kwa hawa ndugu zako.” “Na ujue ndugu yako Otho ana tabia mbaya, na ni mchoyo, hataki wenzake.” “Na Chiemo umchukue kama ndugu yako, usimtenge, maana yeye ni mtu ambaye ameingia hapa kwangu na amekuwa kama mtu wa nyumbani, ukae nae kwa usalama.” “Na wewe Abuanda (sasa ni ukoo wa Kanyaguti) usikie maneno ya huyu ndugu yenu, maana yeye ndiye atakayekuwa kiongozi wenu.” “Na wewe, Odera (sasa ni kabila la Kamot), najua wewe unapenda kupeleleza maneno na pia unapenda kuwinda na pia unapenda sana mashauri, basi wewe nchi unayotafuta na kupata hapo ndipo watoto wangu wote watakusanyikia.” 13 KOWAK Mot(Kamot)wasthefirsttoarrivebeforetheKowakcametoTanganyika. This was because of a promise or charge (Singruok) that had been given by their father. When he was about to die, Mzee Owak Ramogi told his son Kibira that, “you must try to stay with your brothers and live in peace with them because you are the eldest son and now you are the advisor of your brothers.” “You should know that your brother Otho has bad habits and that he is mean and does not want his other brothers.” “Chiemo should be considered as your brother, don’t isolate him because he is a person who came to my home and has become one of us, live with him in peace.” “And you Abuanda (now the clan of Kanyaguti) listen to your brother because he will now be your leader.” “And you Odera (now the ethnic group of Kamot) I know you like to investigate matters and to hunt and like to discuss things.” “Therefore you must look for a land that all of my children can settle together in” After the death of Mzee Owak, his sons were separated and each of them built their compound with his respective mother, children and 342 SURA YA KUMI NA TATU Halafu alipofariki Mzee Owak, basi hao vijana wake wakatawanyika, na kila mojawao alijenga mji wake na kuishi na mama yake na watoto wake na wake au mke wake: Otho na Kibira, wao walijenga pamoja, Nyabwanda, alijenga yake, Nyagak, Chiemo na Kibira, wao walijenga pamoja. Wakati huo walikuwa bado huko ng’ambo Chudo, sehemu ya Sakwa. Ila Odera alikwenda ng’ambo South Nyanza, sehemu ya nchi ya Kochia na akahama tena akaja Kadem Ndiwa na alihama pia Kadem na akaenda Tanganyika, sehemu ya Iringo, Musoma. Wakati huo watu wa Bugire walikuwa wanaishi na kabila la Wakwaya, sehemu ya Busamba Nyegina na watu wa Kamageta wao walikuwa wanaishi Bukabwa. Wakati huo alikuwepo kiongozi mwanamke, jina lake Auma, kati ya Odera na watu wake. Huyo mwanamke mganga aliwaambia, nimeijiwa na ndoto wakati wa usiku ikisema, “Nyie Kamot, ukoo wa Odera, muangalie au mujitahadhari, watu wa Wagire wamejiunga na Wakwaya na watakuja kuwamaliza kwa hiyo muhame leo usiku baada ya chakula, na muende ng’ambo ya Mto Mara na njiani kando ya mto mukikutana na mtu msimuwe ila mumlazimishe awaonyeshe mahali wanapopitia wakienda ngambo ya Mto Mara.” “Na wakati mukipita mmoja kati ya wake zenu ataanguka kwenye maji na musimtoe, nyie muendelee na safari yenu” (aliyeanguka anaitwa Macha Auma, mama yao wakina Misolo, Nyagori na Nyatado). Basi siku hiyo walifanya kama walivyoambiwa na mganga wao huyo wa kike, na yote aliyowambia yalitendeka hadi wakavuka na kuacha mama yao wakina Nyatado baada ya kutumbukia majini. Safari yao iliendelea hadi katika mlima wa Odera, karibu na Mto Mara na wakakaa pale. Wakati wakiwepo katika mlima wa Odera walikwepo Jamwa (kabila lisilo na mila kama Wajaluo na lugha yao ni tofauti na Wajaluo) wakiishi katika mlima wa Ryabiri. Na watu wa Kamot walikwenda kuwashambulia na kuwafukuza na wao wa Kamot wakasogea pale Ryabiri na hapo ndipo tena walianza kusikilizana na watu wa Wairienyi na wakala amini na vita yao ikaisha. Baadae Wakenye walianza kuja na kuwadanganya watu wa Kamot, wakiwaambia kwamba, “Kuna watu wengine hapo juu wanaitwa Wasweta, tunaomba muje tuende tuwazingire na kuwanyang’anya ng’ombe na nchi.” Na wakati huo watu wa Kamot walikuwa wameugua sana na wengine walikufa kwa ugonjwa wa ndui na wale waliobaki walikuwa hawana nguvu ya vita ila walishawishika na wakaondoka kwenda kupambana na Wasweta. Na walipo fika huko na...